Israel fails to heed demand for end to settlement building: U.N.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Israel has not taken steps to halt settlement building as demanded by the United Nations Security Council in a resolution adopted in December, U.N. Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov told the council on Friday.

"The resolution calls on Israel to take steps 'to cease all settlements activities in the occupied Palestinian territory including east Jerusalem.' No such steps have been taken during the reporting period," Mladenov told the council in his first report on the implementation of the Dec. 23 resolution.

The United States abstained in the vote to allow the 15-member council to adopt the a resolution, defying pressure from then President-elect Donald Trump, Israel and some U.S. lawmakers who urged Washington to wield its veto.